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Carol Kidd

Carol Kidd

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With a triumphant career in jazz spanning half a century, Carol Kidd is widely recognised as "Britain's finest ballads singer" (Jazz Review). She has been named 'Best Vocalist' at the British Jazz Awards on four occasions and was appointed MBE for Services to Jazz. In 2006, Kidd was a winner of the prestigious Nordoff-Robbins Tartan Clef Music Award and in 2017 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Jazz Awards.

Kidd is renowned for her impeccable phrasing and delivery along with an unforgettable ability to breathe fresh life into any jazz standard. Throughout her career, Kidd has cut a distinctive path through the Great American Songbook with orchestral and trio backing, as well performing as a unique and intimate duo with guitarist and close friend Nigel Clark.

A singer who is admired by artists and fans alike, Kidd enjoys particular popularity in East Asia. After her signature song ‘When I Dream' was featured as the theme of the Korean movie Shiri, Kidd secured a place in the Asian Music Box charts for a spectacular thirteen weeks. She has performed numerous times in China and Singapore to sold-out stadium venues. Notably, she was the first western artist to be invited by the Chinese government to perform there in a quarter of a century. Kidd has also given a personal performance for the Cambodian royal family at their special request.

Kidd's first album on Linn, Debut marked the beginning of a long and valued relationship. The partnership has produced ten studio albums, including the bestselling All My Tomorrows and her 2009 comeback album Dreamsville which won the Scottish Jazz Award for ‘CD of the Year' and saw Kidd celebrate twenty-five years in the business

A long line of admirers has included Frank Sinatra, who invited her to open for him at a stadium concert where he remarked that, "Carol Kidd is the best kept secret of British jazz." Kidd has also performed at the internationally acclaimed Ronnie Scott's Club in London where Tony Bennett said of her performance: "You are world class, where have you been?". After a sensational performance at the Tribute to Johnny Mercer show at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, Sir Michael Parkinson observed from the stage that "If there is a better jazz singer out there I have yet to hear them!".

Following a battle with cancer, Kidd returned to the stage triumphant in the summer of 2013 to give a powerful, emotional performance at the Glasgow Jazz Festival. In the wake of this homecoming, it is impossible to deny that Kidd is one of the most remarkable artists and performers of our time.